Page 12 of Unmasked Legacy

“There hasn’t been one problem in this town since the day you and your father were removed. Now, you return to town and a girl goes missing under the same circumstances as the crimes your father committed. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.”

My blood runs cold.

They think I am responsible for Nia going missing, purely because I am the child of a killer?

I knew people would stoop low, I just never thought it would come to this.

“I have never, nor would I ever, hurt anyone.”

The man shakes his head. “Evil runs in your blood. You lived with that man while he was committing horrendous murders, and you want us to believe you never knew?”

Heaving, I turn away, not wanting to say another word to this person who has decided he knows me. My skin prickles and my body hums as I pick up the pace toward the station. I can’t breathe, and when I try, my lungs burn. By the time I step through the door, I’m on the verge of panic.

Harry is there before I can even say a word to the receptionist. She must have called him out before I walked through the front door.

“Mera, are you okay?”

Harry places a hand on my shoulder as I struggle to catch my breath.

“Those people think it was me. They think it was me.”

Harry pauses, then he ushers me down the hall to his office. Once inside, he closes the door and helps me take a seat. I drop my head into my hands, fighting back tears as I try to process what just happened. Silence fills the room for a moment before Harry finally speaks, and when he does, his words cut me to my core.

“You know I have to ask the question, Mera. Do you know what happened to Nia?”

I jerk, and my head whips up, the tears I was holding in come rushing down my face. “You can’t honestly be asking me that question? You, of all people ...”

“I don’t want to ask it, but I have no choice. The people are reporting it, and I’m legally bound to do my job.”

“You think I’d actually hurt someone? I’m nothing like him, Harry. Nothing.”

Harry exhales. “I know, but I have to ask the questions. I don’t have a choice.”

The tears keep rolling, and I sit there as Harry asks me formal questions about where I was at the time Nia was taken, and if I have anyone that can vouch for my story. Then, he goes over other ideas, wondering if there is anyone who might be trying to copy my father’s crimes and if I know of anyone.

By the time I leave the station, I’m sobbing so heavily I can’t see straight.

As I move rapidly down the sidewalk, I make the mistake of looking up to see people whispering outside of a local bar, their eyes on me.

“I’m not a fucking killer,” I scream. “I am not my father.”

“Hey.”

A rough, stern voice and a hand on my shoulder has me flinching. I turn to see Wolfe standing behind me, his motorcycle humming on the road. I didn’t even hear it.

“I’m in no mood for you,” I hiccup. “Not right now.”

“Come with me.”

“No,” I sob, angrily swiping my tears away.

“You come with me, or you stay here and let these fuckers talk about you.”

I glance over my shoulder at the people now staring, some of them holding their phones. Fucking assholes. All of them. I know I have no choice. I have to go with Wolfe, because right now, I can’t think of anywhere else to go. I give a small, sharp nod, and when Wolfe indicates that I get onto his bike, I do just that.

Pulling the helmet over my head, I let the tears continue to fall as he gets on in front of me.

Then we’re off, riding away from the prying eyes of the monsters in this town.

---